Israeli Editors Meet to Resist “security Bill” Against Press

January 17, 1958

TEL AVIV (Jan. 16)

A committee representing the editors of the entire Israeli press met here tonight to discuss means of resisting Premier David Ben Gurion’s announced intention of presenting a government bill providing heavy punishment for newspapers which publish secret details of Cabinet meetings.

Thus far, the editors feel they want to try to stop the introduction of such a law altogether. Failing this, they hope to influence its drafting so it will be “as liberal as possible.” A meeting of all editors has been called for next week to make a final decision on how to fight the Ben Gurion proposal.